Trump and his agents smiles during the assassination attempt altered

The photos circulating on social media purporting to show Donald Trump and his Secret Service detail smiling after he narrowly escaped an assassination attempt are actually altered and misleading. These images have been manipulated to add smiles, which has contributed to baseless claims suggesting that the attack was staged or part of a setup.

This is about our investigation of this claim.

Social Media Claim

We found the mentioned picture rapidly spreading across various online platforms, including Threads. The same user shows a viral image of Trump’s Secret Service agents smiling next to him while escorting him out of the scene.

Such photos have been circulated several times, with mixed reactions and expressions from users.

The following snapshot captured from the above Thread page says “Photo op of the century”.

Thread Post | Archived Link

Such claims have also been posted and found on X (formerly Twitter). The full confirmation message is below.

X Link | Archived Link

Another tweet from X user recently.

X Link | Archived Link

Given the image’s extensive dissemination and the considerable attention it has received from the internet community, we believed it was necessary to perform a fact-check on the subject.

Fact Check

Fact Crescendo has started debunking the above claim and verifying it through reliable sources. The same above images have been seen and published on many news websites.

One of them is Aljazeera. Authorities identified the shooter who targeted former President Donald Trump at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania.

Crooks opened fire on the former president but was swiftly neutralized by a Secret Service sniper team. This incident was a serious security breach, prompting immediate response and ensuring the safety of all involved.

The following image captured from the above website states “One person who attended the rally was killed and two other spectators were critically wounded”.

Aljazeera News Report | Archived Link

There is no truth to the claim that Donald Trump was smiling after he got shot, as there is no credible evidence or news reports to support such a statement. It's crucial to verify the authenticity of viral photos or stories before accepting them as factual. False information can easily spread on social media, so it's always best to rely on reputable sources and fact-checking organizations for accurate information.

It’s important to note that altering images or spreading false information can significantly distort the truth and mislead the public.

In reality, reliable news sources and fact-checking organizations have not reported any credible evidence supporting the claim that the attack was staged. As with any news or information shared online, it's crucial to verify sources and rely on reputable sources for accurate information.

See the following screenshot captured:

AP Link | Archived Link

The following is the comparison image between the original and the altered one.

Also, after conducting an investigation, we utilized the Reverse Image Search feature to trace the picture’s origin. This led us to the original photo taken by AP photojournalist Evan Vucci, which does not depict the agents smiling as seen in the viral version on social media.

The image was published in the news report by AP on July 14th, which can be read HERE.

Fact Crescendo Sri Lanka Report | Archived Link

Fact Crescendo has also debunked other misinformation about the assassination attempt here and here.

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Conclusion

Fact Crescendo found that the above claim posted on social media is false. A former US president, Donald Trump, and his Secret Service agents are not smiling at all after the shooting incident.